OpenAI made a groundbreaking announcement at DevDay 2025, revealing that ChatGPT now serves 800 million weekly active users and is transitioning from a standalone product into a comprehensive platform ecosystem. The launch of the new Apps SDK enables developers to build and monetize commercial applications directly inside ChatGPT, fundamentally changing how AI services can be delivered.
Platform Strategy Shift
The Apps SDK represents OpenAI's most ambitious platform move yet, allowing third-party developers to create paid applications that integrate seamlessly with ChatGPT's interface. This strategic pivot mirrors successful platform plays by companies like Apple and Salesforce, opening up new revenue streams while expanding ChatGPT's capabilities far beyond its original chatbot functionality.
CEO Sam Altman emphasized during the keynote that this transformation positions ChatGPT as the operating system for AI-powered applications, where developers can focus on creating innovative solutions while leveraging OpenAI's infrastructure and massive user base.
Developer Opportunities
Early access developers are already building applications ranging from specialized research tools to industry-specific assistants. The platform supports various monetization models, including subscription services and one-time purchases, with OpenAI taking a revenue share similar to app store models.
The company also unveiled AgentKit Framework, providing enhanced tools for building sophisticated AI agents within the ChatGPT ecosystem. This framework supports the new Agentic Commerce Protocol, enabling transactions and complex workflows directly within conversations.
Market Implications
With 800 million weekly users, ChatGPT's user base now rivals major social media platforms, making it an attractive distribution channel for developers. Industry analysts suggest this move could accelerate AI adoption across enterprises by lowering the barrier to deploying custom AI solutions.
The platform launch also intensifies competition with Microsoft's Azure AI services and Google's AI offerings, as developers now have more choices for building and deploying AI-powered applications. OpenAI's first-mover advantage in consumer AI combined with this platform strategy could establish ChatGPT as the dominant gateway for AI services.
What's Next
OpenAI plans to expand platform features throughout 2025, including enhanced customization options, deeper enterprise integrations, and support for more complex multi-agent workflows. The company is also working with select partners to demonstrate flagship applications that showcase the platform's capabilities.
For businesses and developers, this evolution signals that AI is moving from experimental tool to essential infrastructure—and ChatGPT is positioning itself as the foundation layer for this transformation.